The Super 15: Our B.C. girls high school basketball 2017 Dream Team

As the 2016-17 season hits its final four days this week, Varsity Letters and the B.C. Secondary Schools Girls Basketball Association are happy to announce our annual Super 15 and our Player of the Year.

The next four days, starting Wednesday, marks March Madness with three tiers of provincial senior varsity championship tournament play.

It’s all about team.

But today, it’s about the players.

Please note, the selections below were made exclusively by a panel of BCSSGBA members. They are presented in alphabetical order. Varsity Letters did not take part in this process, but we are proud to present them to you today.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Louise Forsyth (6-1 G, Brookswood Bobcats)

Brookswood’s Louise Forsyth is the BCSSGBA/VarsityLetters.ca Player of the Year. (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 16 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocksThe skinny — Integral part of the Breakers’ scheme, her greatest plus is the natural ability she brings to every skill she learns and refines. Touch around the hoop has always been a strength, enhanced by growing post repertoire. As well, uses her length to maximum advantage.

Maryn Budiman, 5-10 G, Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey)

Lord Tweedsmuir’s Maryn Budiman. (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 28.4 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 6 assistsThe skinny — Incredible work ethic and will, has become an elite player whose vast skill hits the plus-level because of her execution at the highest tempo. Has been called the fastest player in the province. Will help NCAA Cal Baptist make the transition to Div. 1 status over her collegiate career.

Ashlyn Day, 5-10 G/F, Immaculata Mustangs (Kelowna)

Immaculata’s Ashlyn Day (photo courtesy Lorne White, Kelowna Now)

Averages — 38 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocksThe skinny — Intuitive in her dribble-drive game, she can’t be shut down because she continually finds ways to score the basketball, owing to her IQ, her sense and her strength. Scored 51 points against AA No. 1 Langley Christian this season and 49 against Okanagan Mission in playoffs.

Sophie de Goede, 6-1 G/F, Oak Bay Breakers (Victoria)

Oak Bay’s Sophie de Goede (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assistsThe skinny — The heart-and-soul of B.C.’s No. 1-ranked Triple-A team, de Goede plays the game like a force of nature. Her rise from raw prospect to elite performer continues unabated, and she will play both basketball and rugby next season in her collegiate career at Queen’s University.

Savannah Dhaliwal, 6-0 F, Panorama Ridge Thunder (Surrey)

Panorama Ridge’s Savannah Dhaliwal (photo courtesy B.C.’s Finest)

Averages — 22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 stealsThe skinny — Lives the 24/7 hoops/school life with pre-dawn workouts and a near-perfect GPA. So dominant for the Thunder that she often times has been the sole game-plan for teams to try to stop. Nonetheless, she has continued to deliver, playing through regular triple-team attention and averaging a double-double for her Thunder in the process.

Jenna Dick, 5-6 G, Brookswood Bobcats (Langley)

Brookswood’s Jenna Dick (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 18 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assistsThe skinny — Burst onto the B.C. senior girls varsity scene as a 10th grade phenom this season. One of the top three-point shooters in the province, she drained 11 triples in one game this season. Was brought up to the senior team this season to provide rotational depth but has surpassed all expectations.

Courtney Donaldson, 5-7 G, Kelowna Owls

Kelowna’s Courtney Donaldson (left). (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 11 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 stealsThe skinny — A true in-the-details performer. First impression is her willingness and ability to take on tough defensive assignments with aplomb. Speed and physicality lead the way. Captains a masterful fast break, consistent both from distance and in getting to the rim.

Kayla Krug, 5-6 G, Seycove Seyhawks (North Vancouver)

Seycove’s Kayla Krug (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 14 points, 9 assists, 6 steals, 4 rebounds, The skinny — Epitome of the true point guard. Resume an impressive mix of numbers which create not only high-percentage hoops, but put team in position to utilize strengths in the best way. Combined assists-steals number of 15 is probably worth 20 per cent of team’s field goal percentage.

Sienna Lenz, 5-8 G, Abbotsford Panthers

Abbotsford’s Sienna Lenz (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 28 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assistsThe skinny — Gives you everything you want from a scoring guard, and does it with uncommon decisiveness and physical confidence. If she gains separation from others in this class, it’s in her ability to out-perform the requirements of her position by just doing what needs to be done.

Katelyn Malette, 6-1 post, Langley Christian Lightning

Langley Christian’s Katelyn Mallette (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 22 points, 10 reboundsThe skinny — A true dual-sport athlete who also played a mean front-row for her school’s volleyball team. The transfer from spiking and digging has only enhanced her ability to play under control. Yet watch her score and defend in the post and you’re surprised to hear this is first fully-committed hoops season.

Megan Rouault, 5-9 G, Vernon Panthers

Vernon’s Megan Roualt. (Photo courtesy Michelle Wiebe)

Averages — 19.8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 stealsThe skinny — Competitive spirit unmistakable, as is her love of the game. That base has opened up the sport’s entire repertoire to her, and is reflected in both her generalship and her ability to consistently produce significant numbers in all areas of her game.

Tavia Rowell, 5-10 G, Walnut Grove Gators (Langley)

Walnut Grove’s Tavia Rowell (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assistsThe skinny — A transcendent scoring force. Despite her youth, she already knows the importance of aggressiveness and physicality, never shies, and scores in a most complete manner. Both pulling up and from distance, she is a masterful shooter, but also equally adept at creating space in a crowd.

Sage Stobbart, 6-2 F, Seycove Seyhawks (North Vancouver)

Seycove’s Sage Stobbart (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 24 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 stealsThe skinny — Ticketed for NCAA Div. 1 UC-Davis next season, she brings essential low-post elements to the mix. Height and touch are both special, but athleticism and strength magnify her ability to get teammates involved in addition to scoring tough baskets in the half court.

Deanna Tuchscherer, 6-1 F, G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack)

G.W. Graham’s Deanna Tuchscherer (Howard Tsumura photo)

Averages — 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists The skinny — The intangible here? If her ability to play tough in the post as both a scorer and defender were all she did, she would be elite. But her pure face-up guard skills in a long-and-strong package bring an entirely different dimension to a career that is really just beginning.

Averages — 26 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 stealsThe skinny — Oozes intangibles and carries an innate understanding of team culture. While driven to push skill level to its maximum, she works just as hard to represent who she wants all her teammates to be. Her flu-ridden performance in zone finals win just the latest example.

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